Cena in Famiglia (ch-e-na – in – fam – eel – ya) – Family Dinner

             ….okay so a family dinner wasn’t the only thing that happened today but it was my most favorite thing J….the day started with church in Italian….which I think made my parents very happy ….we went to the one that I had been to the very first weekend, the one that is also connected to Giacomo’s school, so it is very close to our house J…..

            ….after church we were off on adventures….i had planned to take mom and dad around the Olympic Arch, where the village was, and to the Stadio Olympico, where the opening ceremonies and the torch were….which we definently found,…..J…..

after I led them in the complete opposite direction of the stadium and dad somehow found our way back….thank god for surveyors being everywhere first….but we eventually found the stadium and I think momma was happy to be able to see it, and daddy, well, I think he was just happy to sit down haha….(poor guy and his shin splints)….but then when we were heading home, I thought I would just lead them to the same metro station that we went to when the USAC group were heading back home after the FC Torino game that we went to…..weeeellllllll apparently I didn’t realize just how far away that metro stop was….because well, I think we walked for a good hour or so (while I taught daddy some Italian, which was really fun) before we got to the stop that I thought was only a 5-10 minute walk from the stadium, when dad knew of a metro station that was a REAL 5-10 minute walk away…..needless to say, I am pretty sure that after this visit to me, here in Torino, I am never going to be in charge of directions to or from a place, which I think I am ok with

 J

           ….after that extravaganza, it was the decision of what do we do with the rest of our day….since most places are not open on Sundays here in Italy, that can be kind of hard…..however, today Juventus was playing (I tried my hardest to get tickets to take my dad, but unfortunately that is a dream that has to wait for another trip) so we were trying to find a place to watch the game….we were hoping to find a bar with a bunch of fans, but since the one we wanted to go to wasn’t open and we were hungry after all the walking, we settled on a pizzeria open in the neighborhood of their residence to watch a game…..however, we ended up watching the Naples game because the owner was Neapolitan and the Juventus game was only pay-per-view Im pretty sure….anyways it was a great time, with really good pizza

            …after we ate, dad went back to their flat to see if he could find the Juventus game (which he couldn’t)….mom and I were off to the Lingotto mall (by my house) to visit another Zara…..seriously, mom is to Zara what I am to H&M…..its pretty fun….we window shopped….then left to pick up a few things from Eataly and Pam (Pam is a plain grocery store near my home, only major one open on Sundays)….and then we headed to my home….dad came over, and it was so nice to just hang out, let mom and dad use the internet, and watch some Olympics with them…..this is all while we waited for my host family to come back home from the mountains…..

            ….when they got back, we all went out together for dinner….to the delicious pizza place in our neighborhood J….oh my goodness it was so. Much. Fun…..I totally loved it….thats why my word for today, is what it is…..because today was a dinner that truly merged these two families that I am so thankful and blessed to have…..dad and Simone are getting along just amazing…..and Mom and Eliana I think are new best friends….mom even said today that she thinks that Aunt Suez left her this year but also gave her Eliana, (which if you know my mom and Suez, and the story, that means A LOT….like that means THE WORLD!!)….they are truly these adorable kindred spirits, I am so lucky….        

            …dinner was so freakin great too….love that pizza (unfortunately I was so full from the pizza at lunch, I could barely eat because I was so sure I would get sick if I ate any more L )….but it was just so much fun!....eating and enjoying, especially with mom and dad, at a place that I have been to multiple times,….eating, then coffee, then limoncello (my new love)….it truly was just great….so nice to just watch and listen to my parents speak and love my host parents….and then to see dad playing the “mmmmmmmmmm deLICIOUS!!!” game with Giacomo, that he plays with Eliott…. It was just plain perfect… 

       

            ….I am so blessed and such a happy girl….i mean I definently have my moments when I am missing people from home and wishing that I was there….but then I just think about where I am and what I am doing, and I remember how blessed I am….that I am living something that most people only ever dream of….I have the most amazing parents and family….and similarly an incredible host family taking care of, and protecting and loving me….and a crazy supportive set of friends, and boyfriend, back home that no matter how sad or homesick I get, simply continue to remind me that what I am doing will be one of the most important memories of my life, that this is what most only dream of, and that I am on the adventure of a lifetime, supporting every move I make…….im not sure what more I could ask for…..I am truly so grateful…  

            …..tomorrow mom and dad leave, and although I am so sad to see them go…this has been the best visit ever….I joke that this is my study abroad parents weekend….but it really is….im so glad we were able to do so much and I could so them everything that I have discovered so far J….this has been the best weekend ever….im so thankful that they were able to come here at all J…..one more day (or part of a day) left, and this has truly been….a great game J